Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Balayan)

Balayan Church
Immaculate Conception Parish Church Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepción
Facade of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Balayan, Batangas
Balayan Church Location in the Philippines
13°56′17″N 120°43′43″E / 13.937986°N 120.728549°E / 13.937986; 120.728549Coordinates: 13°56′17″N 120°43′43″E / 13.937986°N 120.728549°E / 13.937986; 120.728549
Location	Plaza Mabini St., Balayan, Batangas
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Founded	1759
Dedication	Immaculate Conception
Consecrated	1759
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	National Cultural Treasure
Designated	2001
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Baroque
Groundbreaking	1748
Completed	1752
Specifications
Materials	Coral, wood,and bricks
Administration
Archdiocese	Lipa
Clergy
Archbishop	Ramon Arguelles

The Parish Church of Immaculate Conception, (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepción) also known as Balayan Church, is Parish Church in the town of Balayan, Batangas in the Philippines, within the Archdiocese of Lipa. The church is listed as a National Cultural Treasure as its construction was supervised by Filipino Seculars during the Spanish Colonial Period.^[1]

Church history

In 1575 the Augustinians made Balayan a visita of Bombon, now Taal. Balayan originally comprised what are now the independent towns and parishes of Nasugbu, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, and Calaca. In 1578, however, this territory was turned over to the Franciscans who in turn passed Balayan to the Jesuits in 1591.^[2] In 1591, the church was constructed and blessed by. Fr. Pedro Chirino, S.J.^[3] In 1795, a new stone church was blessed and dedicated in honor of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of Balayan. In 1876 the parish was turned over to the Augustinian Recollects, who remained until the outbreak of the Revolution.^[2]

Nave of Balayan Church

In 1857, a new convent of strong materials was finished. The old convent, on the other side of the patio was demolished, its tiles used for the ermita for the cemetery which was being constructed.^[2] In 1870, the second and third levels of the belfry, as well as the upper level of the convent had to be demolished due to damages cause by earthquakes. A temporary chapel was built while the big church underwent repairs. In 1875 the archbishop authorized the purchase of a retablo mayor, pulpit, acheros, and other decorations for the church. Planks of narra were used for the floor of the nave, while blue and white tiles were fitted to the main altar.^[2] An extension was added behind the church to serve as an antesacristy in 1878. The decorative iron grilles were put around the atrium in 1887. The camapanario was repaired in 1892 with bricks instead of stones used for the upper second and third stories.^[2]

Construction of the cemetery on the hill was commenced in 1857. The chapel and rows of niches were built in 1887. Erosion in 1896 necessitated the further fortification of the walls on the sides of the hill.^[2]

After the revolution the Recollects were replaced by Filipino Seculars who were later driven out by the American troops in 1900 and stayed in the church for at least a year.

The Old Cota

Balayan church complex originally had stone fortifications as a measure against pirates who have sacked the town at least three times. After a raid in 1754, a stone cota or fort was erected with the church and convent inside.^[2] To guard the bay, a small fortification was also constructed on top of a hill on the other end of the town.^[2] This fortified church survived well in the nineteenth century; the walls of the cota were taken down probably about the same time as those of Bauan and Batangas, in the 1840s.^[2]

Old convent of the Balayan Church now used by the Immaculate Conception College Balayan
Walls of the Old Cota of Balayan Church

References

↑ "The Restoration of 26 Philippine Churches". National Commission for Culture and the Arts (Philippines). 2011. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Villegas, Ramon (2002). "Lumang Simbahan Ancestral Churches of Batangas". Batangas - Forged in Fire. Ayala Foundation. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ "History". Balayan Local Government Website. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

External links

Media related to Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Balayan at Wikimedia Commons

National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines

Built Heritage Declarations

Metro Manila	Las Piñas Bamboo Organ San Agustin Church Santa Ana Church Camarin de la Virgen Manila Metropolitan Theater Bonifacio Monument San Sebastian Church Arch of the Centuries, Main Building, Central Seminary Building and Open Spaces of the University of Santo Tomas Santo Domingo Church Rizal National Monument

Ilocos Region	Burial Caves in Sitio Alabok Cape Bojeador Lighthouse Calasiao Church Paoay Church Bacarra Church Magsingal Church Mestizo Section, Vigan Luna Church La Union Watchtowers

Cagayan Valley	Mahatao Church Tumauini Church Malaueg Church Dupax Church

Central Luzon	Masinloc Church Minalin Church Betis Church

CALABARZON	Tayabas Church Balayan Church Maragondon Church Petroglyphs of the Rock-shelter Majayjay Church Tanay Church Tayabas Historic Bridges

MIMAROPA	Romblon Church Petroglyphs in the Caves of the Tao't Bato Area Tabon Cave Complex Twin Forts of Romblon

Bicol Region	Tabaco Church Daraga Church

Western Visayas	San Joaquin Church Panay Church Santa Barbara Church

Central Visayas	Bohol Watchtowers Baclayon Church Loon Church Panglao Church Boljoon Church Bacong Church Lazi Church Dimiao Church Loboc Church Maribojoc Church Dauis Church Loay Church Cortes Church

Eastern Visayas	Guiuan Church Capul Church

Zamboanga Peninsula	Relief Map of Mindanao Fort Pilar

Northern Mindanao	Jasaan Church Jimenez Church

Caraga Region	Balangays of Butuan

CAR	Ifugao Rice Terraces Mummy Caves of Alab Mummy Caves of Kabayan Mummy Caves of Sagada Petroglyphs of Alab Stone Agricultural Calendars of Dap-ay Guiday Tayum Church

ARMM	Karim Ul-Makhdum Mosque Kawayan Torogan

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa

Archidioecesis Lipaensis

Territories	Batangas

Ordinaries	Joseph Petrelli Alfredo Verzosa Alejandro Olalia Ricardo Vidal Mariano Gaviola Gaudencio Rosales Ramon Arguelles

Cathedral	Cathedral of Saint Sebastian

Minor Basilica	Saint Martin of Tours Immaculate Conception

Archdiocesan Shrines	Glorious Cross Our Lady of Caysasay Saint John the Baptist Parish Saint Joseph the Patriarch Saint Raphael the Archangel Parish Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face Saint Vincent Ferrer

National Shrine	Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Parishes	Balayan Bauan Ibaan Lemery

Suffragan dioceses	Boac Gumaca Lucena Prelature of Infanta

For the complete list of Roman Catholic churches in Batangas, see the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa

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